Embassy Worker Says he can Smuggle Stolen Goods out of the UK in Diplomatic Bags

An international undercover investigation filmed by ITV's Exposure has exposed a worker at the Nigeria High Commission (NHC) who claimed he could transport items, including stolen art, out of "any airport" using his diplomatic connections!

Posing as a criminal gang, the Exposure team, led by reporter Mark Williams-Thomas, met Alfa Abutu, in a London hotel. Abutu told them that he could transport their stolen art to Paris.

"Give me your suitcase, this suitcase usually has to be wrapped with the national flag before we can move it anywhere. And we use diplomatic vehicle whereby the police authorities will not stop us," Abutu said.

Exposure later told Abutu the art was worth nearly £1 million, to which he suggested a commission of £250,000. In a series of meetings with undercover reporters, Abutu also claimed he could help transfer money, and smuggle diamonds and gold out of the country using an embassy car and its associated privileges.

"The easiest way is that, let's say this box is loaded with $1 million and they are going out with it or gold, or diamond. With my link, we use a diplomatic vehicle from here straight to Heathrow or Gatwick," he said."They will not open the box they are bringing out. It's not a problem."

After Abutu later foubd out it was a fake deal, and was asked to comment on Exposure's findings, Abutu denied any wrongdoing and said he had never been involved in criminal activities. He said he is local staff, not a diplomat, doesn't have diplomatic immunity and couldn't have assisted the Exposure team to move an item. He turned around to say he believed Exposure's undercover reporter was not genuine, so he decided to play along with him.

However, following the revelations, the Nigeria High Commission immediately suspended Abutu from his position in the accounts department, where he had worked for six years, saying it "utterly condemns Mr Abutu's conduct". Spokesman Ahmed Inusa said:

[The Commission] supports the press and the media in their good work to expose embassy workers…who either pose as diplomats with a view to committing criminal acts for financial gains or diplomats who abuse their diplomatic privileges for any reason. The Mission thanks ITV staff in particular, for the good work they have done.

During its investigation, Exposure uncovered that while Abutu did have diplomatic links, he was not a diplomat and his claims of diplomatic immunity were false. The case has however, provoked concern that diplomatic privileges are open to widespread abuse - whether via smuggling contraband in and out of the UK, or using immunity to evade criminal prosecution.

Before nko,Diplomatic Privileges are always subject to abuse.Can the UK swear that they are not smuggling things in and out of Nigeria and other countries using their Diplomatic privileges??. Diplomatic immunity among other things and most importantly is every country's unofficial means of smuggling things in and out of friendly countries. No be today abeg.

Na today, are they not smugglin stolen things in and out by the diplomat in the white men countries ? make the oibo man go sit down 4 gulter jarey. na mr abutu him wan use shine ? go to your own country and catch the diplomatic theifs there.

Mr Abutu is a liar. He DID NOT KNOW he was an undercover journalist. Why should he play along with him? Who is he trying to hoodwink now?It's a pity that in such a position of trust (representing Nigeria abroad in whatever post) this is what it is all about. Stealing. Fraud. Playing Big.I expect he has built the must-have BIG SHOW HOUSE in Nigeria - and now he needs money to furnish it!. After which it will be OPENED with fanfare!

Send him home to Nigeria before he does anymore damage - his time in the UK has expired.

An undercover investigation filmed by ITV's Exposure reveals how a worker at the Nigeria High Commission (NHC) claimed he could transport items, including stolen art, out of "any airport" using his diplomatic connections.

Posing as a criminal gang, the Exposure team, led by reporter Mark Williams-Thomas, met Alfa Abutu, in a London hotel. Abutu told them that he could transport their stolen art to Paris.

"Give me your suitcase, this suitcase usually has to be wrapped with the national flag before we can move it anywhere. And we use diplomatic vehicle whereby the police authorities will not stop us," Abutu said.

Exposure later told Abutu the art was worth nearly £1 million, to which he suggested a commission of £250,000. In a series of meetings with undercover reporters, Abutu also claimed he could help transfer money, and smuggle diamonds and gold out of the country using an embassy car and its associated privileges.

Mr Abutu is a liar. He DID NOT KNOW he was an undercover journalist. Why should he play along with him? Who is he trying to hoodwink now?It's a pity that in such a position of trust (representing Nigeria abroad in whatever post) this is what it is all about. Stealing. Fraud. Playing Big.I expect he has built the must-have BIG SHOW HOUSE in Nigeria - and now he needs money to furnish it!. After which it will be OPENED with fanfare!

Send him home to Nigeria before he does anymore damage - his time in the UK has expired.

They cannot send him anywhere. He was employed locally… He is not a direct employee of external affairs dept. or FG.He may not even be a Nigerian…

The most important thing is that he was busted.. .. ..and that’s a good thing.